Flexure at large continental volcanoes
One of the principal means that we have to determine the rigidity of the plates is from studies of the way that they respond to geological loads such as ice sheets, volcanoes, and sediments. Volcanoes are probably the most ideal load-type because they are concentrated over small areas, form relatively rapidly, and are found in a wide range of tectonic settings. Indeed, volcanoes have provided some of the best evidence that we have on the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere and its relationship to load and plate age. Most previous studies, however, have been carried out in oceanic rather than continental settings. The purpose of this project is assess the role that flexure has played in supporting large continental volcanoes such as Mt. Etna (Sicily) and Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). Particular attention will be given to comparing the flexure associated with volcanoes in continental regions with that of their oceanic counterparts and the possible role that flexure may play in controlling the moat infill, magma supply, and seismicity of continental volcanoes. The project will involve geological and geophysical studies of select volcanoes, the manipulation of large 3-D topography and gravity anomaly data sets, and flexure, curvature and stress modeling using elastic and viscoelastic plates.